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(ModeL) W. F. WELLMAN.

TABLE LEA-F SUPPORT ER. No. 257,116. Patented Apr.25, 1882.

\ ljmw/ ATTORNEYS.

NNNNNNNNNN crlilhcgmphan Wishingmn. 635i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLARD F. WELLMAN, OF BELFAST, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND WILLIAM G. THOMPSON, OF SAME PLACE.

TABLE-LEAF SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 257,116, dated April 25, 1882.

Application filed December 18, 1880. Renewed March 14, 1882. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD FRANK WELL- MAN, of Belfast, in the county of Waldo and State of Maine, have invented a new and Improved Table-Leaf Supporter, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved table-leaf supporter which is so constructed that it looks itself automatically when raised, holds the leaf very firmly, is strong and durable, and can be unlocked very readily in case the leaf is to be lowered.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is aside elevation of a table-leaf provided with my improved table-leaf supporter, showing the leaf raised. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the leaf lowered.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

One end of a bar, A, is pivoted to the under side of the pivoted leaf 0 of the table D, and the other end of this bar A is pivoted to a bar, E, about twice as long as the bar A, the other end of this bar E being pivoted to the lower edge of the transverse rail F, connecting the upper ends of the table-legs. The united length of the bars A and E must be equalto a right line connecting the outer pivots or hinges of these bars A and E.

A rod or keeper, G, is attached to the upper surface of the bar E, parallel to the same and extending from the lower end to about the middle of this bar E. The keeper G forms a kind of loop, a, or kink at its lower end.

One end of a spiral spring, H, is attached to the under side of the leaf 0, nearly above the upper end of the rod G, and the other end of this spring glides up and down on this rod G.

The bars A and E are hinged to each other in such a manner that thejoint will only pass beyond the right line connecting the endparts or joints a short distance-that is, the bars cannot swing inward, but only outward from the right line connecting the two pivots when 4 5 the leaf is raised.

The operation is as follows The leaf 0 be ing in the position shown in Fig. 1, the spring H holds the outer end of the bar E upward, and the pressure of the weight of the leaf will exert itself on the bars E and A in the direction of the length of the same, for the bars cannot be bent upward, as the joint or hinge of the bars will not-allow this, and they cannot bend downward, as the spring H holds them up, and thejoint is slightly to the inside of the right line connecting the end hinges of the bars.

To lower the leaf 0 the joint of the two bars A and E is drawn downward, thereby causing 6o the leaf to swing down on its hinges and the spring H to glide along the keeper G until finally its end passes into the kink a and the leaf hangs down vertically, as shown in Fig.

2. If the leaf is raised, the spring H slides 6 5 to the other end of the rod G, and will thus automatically lock the leaf in a raised position.

The locking device is applicable to any hinged or pivoted leaf.

Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- In combination with the hinged leaf O,tablerail F, and outwardlyfolding rods A E, the keeper G, fixed on the rod E, and the spiral spring H, attached to the under side of leaf 0, and sliding at the lower end on the keeper G, as and for the purpose specified.

WILLARD FRANK WELLMAN.

Witnesses:

J. S. HARRIMAN, GEO. F. HARRIMAN. 

